Floris
12th May 2006, 11:32 PM
Jeff has been so kind to break away from his busy schedule and spend some time in our own chat channel to answer some of our questions. Here's the full log.
[22:42] * Floris changes topic to 'INTERVIEW WITH VIP MEMBER: JEFF FROM ACMESHELLS >> +v temporary removed and channel moved to +m - so you guys can't screw it up. QUESTIONS? /msg floris QUESTION: your question .. and I will post it.'
[22:42] * Floris sets mode: +m
[22:43] * Floris sets mode: +v DragonFlu
[22:43] <!Floris> Hello everybody, I'd like to introduce to you Mr Acmeshells himself: DragonFlu (aka Jeff). He is the guy behind the web site http://www.acmeshells.com/ and partially responsible for the fun times we have on this chat network.
[22:44] <!Floris> We're being hosted by him through the services he offers, shell accounts for "bots" and "chat servers".
[22:45] <!Floris> The two he hosts at the moment are irc.fortehwin.org and irc.omgboards.com. You might not notice this, but from time to time when you connect to irc.vbulletin-fans.com or irc.vbulletin-chat.com you are automatically redirected to one of our underlying servers.
[22:45] * Joins: vBFan419 (~vBFan419@irc.vBirc.com)
[22:45] <!Floris> A bot is a robot (script to behave as a user online) with scripts that help us have fun. Like the google bot script and the database query script.
[22:46] <!Floris> A chat server is a daemon that runs in the background to which multiple users can connect and join these type of chat channels. Currently we're in #vBFans.
[22:46] * Joins: The_Great_One (~fazalthek@irc.vBirc.com)
[22:46] <!Floris> So, my first question to Jeff, how the hell did you ever rolled into running a company that offers these type of services to users who require them?
[22:47] <+DragonFlu> Well, I've been on IRC for about 16 years now, I've always been in to bots, etc.
[22:48] <+DragonFlu> I've been opered on multiple networks, etc, finally got tired of it all and ran into one of the owners of acmeshells where I had purchased a shell
[22:48] <+DragonFlu> I eventually started helping out and over time I bought acmeshells from the previous owner.
[22:49] <+DragonFlu> I've been running acme for about 3 years now.
[22:49] <!Floris> And besides that I experience great customer support (fast and accurate replies with a friendly smile) what do you think makes your company more successful then the others I could pick from. I have been with a lot too and they've basically been unable to match up?
[22:51] <+DragonFlu> Well, one thing I try to do is to make sure that someone is around as much as possible, Autumn (Michele) is my right hand, I couldn't have done any of this without her, she handles billing and does it very well with our custom billing script.
[22:51] <+DragonFlu> We try to help when we can, sometimes that is not possible, one of my main peaves is that I will not setup any ones programs for them, I want users to learn how to operate their shell, ircd, bot, etc.
[22:52] <!Floris> One of the things I've indeed noticed is that the group of staff is pretty small but still is capable of performing when required. Does this mean short nights and long days?
[22:53] <+DragonFlu> A lot of time yes, I recently started a job at my favorite smoke shop so I'm not always here anymore, however, Autumn and Myself and our other staff, currently ceejay and Pantsdown, do spend a lot of time in the channel
[22:53] <+DragonFlu> Autumn and Myself spend probably at least 10-12 hours sometimes longer being available for acme.
[22:54] <!Floris> How do you handle those ideas that people have that IRC, and shell accounts and chat networks are related to 'script kiddies', hackers, and DoS abuse, and all that negativity that seems to hang around it? Personally I think it is overrated, but I can imagine you are being confronted with this on almost a daily basis.
[22:55] <+DragonFlu> Actually we are not confronted with any of that, long ago I made a stand not to back down against these little ddos kiddies, etc, they would come in saying give me a shell or we will take your box down, etc.
[22:56] <+DragonFlu> I never gave into them, and never will, personally they should shoot each and every one of these little kids that think attacking someone is great fun.
[22:57] <+DragonFlu> I have yet to talk to anyone where they think shells are nothing but kiddie related to be honest.
[22:58] <!Floris> That's great to hear. I myself get in contact with hosting providers quite a bit and they're not too fund of users running resources like IRC, their arguments haven't convinced me yet ;)
[22:59] <+DragonFlu> Well one of the things I've found is that networks that support warez channels and file trading tend to get a lot of these ddos kiddies, etc.
[22:59] <+DragonFlu> I have a ban on any IRCD on our machines that have warez or server it or link to any network that does.
[22:59] <+DragonFlu> Not only cause of kiddies and trouble makers, but the bandwidth is horrible just cause they have bots in them that dump tons of lines to the channel on a constant basis
[22:59] <!Floris> A question from a user: With current uptimes on the FreeBSD servers being over 450 days and counting, how important is uptime vs security/quality of the services you offer?
[23:00] <+DragonFlu> For shell companies, users tend to like the longer uptimes, it proves the company does not just reboot their machines whenever, etc, our machines are kept secure enough, at least as secure as I can, there are a lot of hidden things in the background we monitor that users don't even know about.
[23:01] <+DragonFlu> For their sake, we do not monitor emails, so don't worry about that.
[23:02] <!Floris> As a follow up on the previous subject. With your standing on not supporting abuse and software piracy do you think your services are the solution for vBulletin powered community sites that wish to have a chat section on their site?
[23:02] <+DragonFlu> As far as quality, we cant control everything where our machines are located, things happen, bugs are found in firewalls, etc, so connectivity may be interupted for a very short period.
[23:03] <+DragonFlu> Ok, I guess I'm a bit confused with that question, a chat section on their site, usually that would mean a java chat client, etc. is this what they mean?
[23:03] <!Floris> Yes. For example.
[23:03] <!Floris> Some users want a flash chat, but many believe an IRCd solution is a better solution.
[23:04] <!Floris> For example, we stimulate the live-chat by inviting users to join our net and start their own channel or join an existing one and participate in conversations.
[23:04] <+DragonFlu> We have a separate web hosting machine at acme, it's kept away from the shell accounts totally for security purposes. We have no problem with people hosting a java chat client or something of that nature on their webhosting.
[23:04] <!Floris> Users who want their own channel bot, or even run their own network could end up on your site and order a service and expect higher quality over the alternatives like your competitors or a flash chat?
[23:04] <+DragonFlu> In fact, I host a javachat client on my own personal website.
[23:05] <+DragonFlu> I would say so, but expect if you go with us we will make them LEARN how to use such things.
[23:05] <!Floris> That's why we have www.vBulletin-Chat.com (http://www.vBulletin-Chat.com) :) Though pretty fresh we hope to slowly grow and be there for those who desire.
[23:05] <+DragonFlu> We won't do it for them, it would do no good if we did those things for them, every time they would want to change something they would have to contact us, etc.
[23:05] <+DragonFlu> this is not a good way to be fair to users.
[23:06] <!Floris> On that note: Is IRC (chatting) hard to learn from the owner of a channel point of view as well as the guest who joins for a chat? You have over 15 years of chat experience, you should know!
[23:07] <+DragonFlu> Actually no, chatting isn't hard to learn at all, just remember these people are anonymous mostly and if you go into a channel cussing, etc, expect to be banned.
[23:07] <+DragonFlu> use common sense when you are in chat channels, it's not your personal little play ground to abuse people and services.
[23:07] <!Floris> Sorry for jumping back to the subject abuse again, but there's another user question as a follow up: question: how do you go about handling users that 'attract the wrong crowd' on irc, that is, users who attract DDoS and the likes?
[23:08] <+DragonFlu> Simple, if we find a user that is the subject of ddos attacks often we will remove that user, we wont jeopardize our other users for one user.
[23:08] <!Floris> Good reply!
[23:08] <+DragonFlu> We understand sometimes kiddies will just attack to attack, those are not the ones we remove, its ones that get attacked on a repeated case.
[23:10] <!Floris> DragonFlu: I want to end this spontaneous interview with a personal question.
[23:10] <+DragonFlu> Sure
[23:11] <!Floris> This is a hobby, by the way it sounds, and you've made it your job. And besides running an offline job too .. anything else going on in your life? Do you have any other hobbies or anything you could share with us?
[23:12] <+DragonFlu> One thing I have found that was introduced to me in the past 6 months was my love of cigars, it's become a hobby for me, it's also very relaxing, which sometimes I need working online a lot, I also like to build things in my workshop in the garage.
[23:12] <+DragonFlu> other than that I don't do much but take care of the yard/house.
[23:13] <!Floris> Sounds like IRC is taking way too much of your time ..
[23:13] * !Floris looks innocent (no idea what you're talking about : whistle).
[23:13] <+DragonFlu> It used to, but It's not really a problem anymore, I've made a point to get away from it at times, etc.
[23:14] <!Floris> Jeff, thank you very much for your time and I hope we will be using your acme shell services for a long time. We're all having a great time on this chat network talking to our friends and family. vBulletin-fans.com and omgboards.com guests.
[23:14] <+DragonFlu> I've finally setup my wireless network in the house, so I have my laptop downstairs next to my recliner, so I am able to stay online all the time when I am down here and able to be around more.
[23:14] <+DragonFlu> Well, I'm glad you enjoy it and I hope to have you as a customer for a long time to come.
[23:15] <!Floris> And of course, for anybody interested in the ACME services, for those who want their own channel bot, or run their own irc server, click the banner on our vbulletin-fans.com web site! :)
[23:15] <!Floris> I will leave you be now, and say hi to Michelle later and I'll drop by in your support channel later on, that's #acmeshells on irc.efnet.org right?
[23:16] * Joins: vBFan821 (~vBFan821@irc.vBirc.com)
[23:16] * Floris sets mode: -m
[23:16] <+DragonFlu> yes it is.
[23:18] * Floris changes topic to 'Welcome to #vBFans - there's no end to where this is going!'
Copyright ©2006 http://www.vBulletin-Chat.com/ The vBulletin Fans Network
Links: http://www.vBulletin-Chat.com/
Links: http://www.acmeshells.com/?refid=23466
You can discuss this interview here: http://www.vbulletin-fans.com/showthread.php?t=17881
Floris & Staff
[22:42] * Floris changes topic to 'INTERVIEW WITH VIP MEMBER: JEFF FROM ACMESHELLS >> +v temporary removed and channel moved to +m - so you guys can't screw it up. QUESTIONS? /msg floris QUESTION: your question .. and I will post it.'
[22:42] * Floris sets mode: +m
[22:43] * Floris sets mode: +v DragonFlu
[22:43] <!Floris> Hello everybody, I'd like to introduce to you Mr Acmeshells himself: DragonFlu (aka Jeff). He is the guy behind the web site http://www.acmeshells.com/ and partially responsible for the fun times we have on this chat network.
[22:44] <!Floris> We're being hosted by him through the services he offers, shell accounts for "bots" and "chat servers".
[22:45] <!Floris> The two he hosts at the moment are irc.fortehwin.org and irc.omgboards.com. You might not notice this, but from time to time when you connect to irc.vbulletin-fans.com or irc.vbulletin-chat.com you are automatically redirected to one of our underlying servers.
[22:45] * Joins: vBFan419 (~vBFan419@irc.vBirc.com)
[22:45] <!Floris> A bot is a robot (script to behave as a user online) with scripts that help us have fun. Like the google bot script and the database query script.
[22:46] <!Floris> A chat server is a daemon that runs in the background to which multiple users can connect and join these type of chat channels. Currently we're in #vBFans.
[22:46] * Joins: The_Great_One (~fazalthek@irc.vBirc.com)
[22:46] <!Floris> So, my first question to Jeff, how the hell did you ever rolled into running a company that offers these type of services to users who require them?
[22:47] <+DragonFlu> Well, I've been on IRC for about 16 years now, I've always been in to bots, etc.
[22:48] <+DragonFlu> I've been opered on multiple networks, etc, finally got tired of it all and ran into one of the owners of acmeshells where I had purchased a shell
[22:48] <+DragonFlu> I eventually started helping out and over time I bought acmeshells from the previous owner.
[22:49] <+DragonFlu> I've been running acme for about 3 years now.
[22:49] <!Floris> And besides that I experience great customer support (fast and accurate replies with a friendly smile) what do you think makes your company more successful then the others I could pick from. I have been with a lot too and they've basically been unable to match up?
[22:51] <+DragonFlu> Well, one thing I try to do is to make sure that someone is around as much as possible, Autumn (Michele) is my right hand, I couldn't have done any of this without her, she handles billing and does it very well with our custom billing script.
[22:51] <+DragonFlu> We try to help when we can, sometimes that is not possible, one of my main peaves is that I will not setup any ones programs for them, I want users to learn how to operate their shell, ircd, bot, etc.
[22:52] <!Floris> One of the things I've indeed noticed is that the group of staff is pretty small but still is capable of performing when required. Does this mean short nights and long days?
[22:53] <+DragonFlu> A lot of time yes, I recently started a job at my favorite smoke shop so I'm not always here anymore, however, Autumn and Myself and our other staff, currently ceejay and Pantsdown, do spend a lot of time in the channel
[22:53] <+DragonFlu> Autumn and Myself spend probably at least 10-12 hours sometimes longer being available for acme.
[22:54] <!Floris> How do you handle those ideas that people have that IRC, and shell accounts and chat networks are related to 'script kiddies', hackers, and DoS abuse, and all that negativity that seems to hang around it? Personally I think it is overrated, but I can imagine you are being confronted with this on almost a daily basis.
[22:55] <+DragonFlu> Actually we are not confronted with any of that, long ago I made a stand not to back down against these little ddos kiddies, etc, they would come in saying give me a shell or we will take your box down, etc.
[22:56] <+DragonFlu> I never gave into them, and never will, personally they should shoot each and every one of these little kids that think attacking someone is great fun.
[22:57] <+DragonFlu> I have yet to talk to anyone where they think shells are nothing but kiddie related to be honest.
[22:58] <!Floris> That's great to hear. I myself get in contact with hosting providers quite a bit and they're not too fund of users running resources like IRC, their arguments haven't convinced me yet ;)
[22:59] <+DragonFlu> Well one of the things I've found is that networks that support warez channels and file trading tend to get a lot of these ddos kiddies, etc.
[22:59] <+DragonFlu> I have a ban on any IRCD on our machines that have warez or server it or link to any network that does.
[22:59] <+DragonFlu> Not only cause of kiddies and trouble makers, but the bandwidth is horrible just cause they have bots in them that dump tons of lines to the channel on a constant basis
[22:59] <!Floris> A question from a user: With current uptimes on the FreeBSD servers being over 450 days and counting, how important is uptime vs security/quality of the services you offer?
[23:00] <+DragonFlu> For shell companies, users tend to like the longer uptimes, it proves the company does not just reboot their machines whenever, etc, our machines are kept secure enough, at least as secure as I can, there are a lot of hidden things in the background we monitor that users don't even know about.
[23:01] <+DragonFlu> For their sake, we do not monitor emails, so don't worry about that.
[23:02] <!Floris> As a follow up on the previous subject. With your standing on not supporting abuse and software piracy do you think your services are the solution for vBulletin powered community sites that wish to have a chat section on their site?
[23:02] <+DragonFlu> As far as quality, we cant control everything where our machines are located, things happen, bugs are found in firewalls, etc, so connectivity may be interupted for a very short period.
[23:03] <+DragonFlu> Ok, I guess I'm a bit confused with that question, a chat section on their site, usually that would mean a java chat client, etc. is this what they mean?
[23:03] <!Floris> Yes. For example.
[23:03] <!Floris> Some users want a flash chat, but many believe an IRCd solution is a better solution.
[23:04] <!Floris> For example, we stimulate the live-chat by inviting users to join our net and start their own channel or join an existing one and participate in conversations.
[23:04] <+DragonFlu> We have a separate web hosting machine at acme, it's kept away from the shell accounts totally for security purposes. We have no problem with people hosting a java chat client or something of that nature on their webhosting.
[23:04] <!Floris> Users who want their own channel bot, or even run their own network could end up on your site and order a service and expect higher quality over the alternatives like your competitors or a flash chat?
[23:04] <+DragonFlu> In fact, I host a javachat client on my own personal website.
[23:05] <+DragonFlu> I would say so, but expect if you go with us we will make them LEARN how to use such things.
[23:05] <!Floris> That's why we have www.vBulletin-Chat.com (http://www.vBulletin-Chat.com) :) Though pretty fresh we hope to slowly grow and be there for those who desire.
[23:05] <+DragonFlu> We won't do it for them, it would do no good if we did those things for them, every time they would want to change something they would have to contact us, etc.
[23:05] <+DragonFlu> this is not a good way to be fair to users.
[23:06] <!Floris> On that note: Is IRC (chatting) hard to learn from the owner of a channel point of view as well as the guest who joins for a chat? You have over 15 years of chat experience, you should know!
[23:07] <+DragonFlu> Actually no, chatting isn't hard to learn at all, just remember these people are anonymous mostly and if you go into a channel cussing, etc, expect to be banned.
[23:07] <+DragonFlu> use common sense when you are in chat channels, it's not your personal little play ground to abuse people and services.
[23:07] <!Floris> Sorry for jumping back to the subject abuse again, but there's another user question as a follow up: question: how do you go about handling users that 'attract the wrong crowd' on irc, that is, users who attract DDoS and the likes?
[23:08] <+DragonFlu> Simple, if we find a user that is the subject of ddos attacks often we will remove that user, we wont jeopardize our other users for one user.
[23:08] <!Floris> Good reply!
[23:08] <+DragonFlu> We understand sometimes kiddies will just attack to attack, those are not the ones we remove, its ones that get attacked on a repeated case.
[23:10] <!Floris> DragonFlu: I want to end this spontaneous interview with a personal question.
[23:10] <+DragonFlu> Sure
[23:11] <!Floris> This is a hobby, by the way it sounds, and you've made it your job. And besides running an offline job too .. anything else going on in your life? Do you have any other hobbies or anything you could share with us?
[23:12] <+DragonFlu> One thing I have found that was introduced to me in the past 6 months was my love of cigars, it's become a hobby for me, it's also very relaxing, which sometimes I need working online a lot, I also like to build things in my workshop in the garage.
[23:12] <+DragonFlu> other than that I don't do much but take care of the yard/house.
[23:13] <!Floris> Sounds like IRC is taking way too much of your time ..
[23:13] * !Floris looks innocent (no idea what you're talking about : whistle).
[23:13] <+DragonFlu> It used to, but It's not really a problem anymore, I've made a point to get away from it at times, etc.
[23:14] <!Floris> Jeff, thank you very much for your time and I hope we will be using your acme shell services for a long time. We're all having a great time on this chat network talking to our friends and family. vBulletin-fans.com and omgboards.com guests.
[23:14] <+DragonFlu> I've finally setup my wireless network in the house, so I have my laptop downstairs next to my recliner, so I am able to stay online all the time when I am down here and able to be around more.
[23:14] <+DragonFlu> Well, I'm glad you enjoy it and I hope to have you as a customer for a long time to come.
[23:15] <!Floris> And of course, for anybody interested in the ACME services, for those who want their own channel bot, or run their own irc server, click the banner on our vbulletin-fans.com web site! :)
[23:15] <!Floris> I will leave you be now, and say hi to Michelle later and I'll drop by in your support channel later on, that's #acmeshells on irc.efnet.org right?
[23:16] * Joins: vBFan821 (~vBFan821@irc.vBirc.com)
[23:16] * Floris sets mode: -m
[23:16] <+DragonFlu> yes it is.
[23:18] * Floris changes topic to 'Welcome to #vBFans - there's no end to where this is going!'
Copyright ©2006 http://www.vBulletin-Chat.com/ The vBulletin Fans Network
Links: http://www.vBulletin-Chat.com/
Links: http://www.acmeshells.com/?refid=23466
You can discuss this interview here: http://www.vbulletin-fans.com/showthread.php?t=17881
Floris & Staff